Chapter 23 Victoria Chen
Elena pov
Victoria’s voice broke the tension that surrounded Marcus and me. At first, I was stunned, but then, I snapped back to my senses and turned to where she stood sharply.
My eyes stared sharply at her, so cold that I even felt that I might freeze her with my gaze.
How dare she interfere in this?! Who the hell does she think she is?! And what does she mean by those words? Is she trying to be the good guy?
I suddenly chuckled to myself, and it rang out in the quiet hall. I could feel all eyes on me, but more of Marcus who hadn't moved his gaze away even when he heard Victoria’s words, which made me pleased.
My eyes narrowed, and my lips curled into a sarcastic smile, “And who are you?” I asked, my voice mellow but the edges were sharp with thorns.
The room became silent. Victoria stood there, stunned. Her eyes widened and I could see how flushed her face turned, but I don't give a fuck!
Victoria parted her lips, and her eyes trembled as if she was so hurt, “Huh? You don't remember me, Miss Elena?” She tilted her head, threw a side glance at Marcus then her smile became even brighter as she began to walk closer to us while I watched her with eyes that contained daggers.
Finally, she stopped closer to us, her face still maintaining that smile, and I knew what next she was about to say when I saw her hand stretched forward to me.
“I don't blame Miss Elena, you must have forgotten about me.” She chuckled, “Well, we met 2 years ago, at your father’s dinner party where I tagged along with Alpha Marcus as his partner.”
My heart felt like it had been pierced by a knife immediately after her words dropped. I felt my heart sink, and my lower abdomen churn with disgust. I pursed my lips, raised my head and stared straight at her piercingly.
“Did she do this on purpose? Is she trying to remind me of the incident I don't hope to remember?” I thought to myself, and my eyes continued to turn cold and sharper.
My fist was secretly clenched and somehow, I felt so angry.
How could I not remember her? How could I not remember the first time I had met her?
That was the dinner my father had arranged after getting a promotion from the company due to his performance in the research world. On that day, my 18th birthday had passed and I had anticipated the arrival of Marcus, because that was the day I had been waiting for—The day of my confession to him. The day I wanted to bare my heart to the man I love.
But when he arrived, I was surprised instead. Marcus who had always been alone had actually come with a woman and the most vexing, she had her hand around his arm.
You could imagine the shock I had felt, the pain that had hit my 18-year-old self. I had stood in the corner, stunned, jealous and heartbroken as I watched the man I had fantasised about walking in together with another woman.
On that day, I could remember clearly how I had run back to my room, crying so much that I didn't even come out when my dad looked for me. But, on that same day, I had wandered off to the garden, hoping to console myself with the scent of the flowers, and then I overheard some female visitors talking about Victoria and only then did I find out that she was just one of Marcus’s sex partner, but she happened to be the most favoured one because she stayed the longest with him.
I was shocked, then happiness came. Imagine the joy you feel when you thought the man you love had been taken by another, only to find out that you still have a chance, because between him and the woman, there was nothing but—bed partners!
I had felt so much joy, I had laughed out loud at that time, my thoughts all over the place, I had thought about how I could still confess to Marcus, I had fantasised about how he would accept me, how he’d tell me he also loves me back just like the novels I had read, but—
He rejected me most brutally. He told me how delusional I was. He tore my fantasies and dreams, and told me how little I was, and when he told me his ideal type, all I saw was the woman who had come with him, the sex partner who had followed next to him, Victoria.
I could still remember the pain, the heartbreak, the tears I had held back, even when Victoria had chosen that moment to step in front of me to introduce herself and show how good she was while holding his arm. The pain… it still stung even now that I think about it.
So, Victoria bringing those memories back at this moment feels like a dagger being run through my chest.
Though, I don't know if she is aware of my confession to Marcus that evening, and I know it's wrong to hate her as she hadn't done anything to me, but that doesn't mean I couldn't dislike her, especially now, when she interrupted us with those sharp words of hers.
I snapped back to my senses, then chuckled, I looked at Victoria who still had her hand stretched out for me to shake. I looked at the hand, then back to her face, then I spat, “I don't remember you!”
The hall fell into an awkward silence and my heart continued to beat faster.
Victoria was stunned, she let out a gasp and even her smile died down. I watched as her face morphed into an aggrieved expression, but funniest? She didn't turn to me, but shifted her attention to Marcus who stood behind me with his cold eyes still on me like he didn't even care about the scuffle and only cared about what I was putting on.
“Alpha… I just wanted to—”
Victoria’s squirmy voice that was enough to make me cringe for days spoke, but before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by a commanding growl that shocked the room.
“Elena! Go! Back! To! Your! Room!”
The loud, beast-like growl startled me. Marcus' voice matched his energy and snapped me out of the excitement I felt to see Victoria speechless.
I turned to him, my eyes wide in shock, my mouth agape, and my heart pounding against my rib from the sound of the growl.
My brain was so confused and I looked at Marcus who glared at me coldly in a daze. I couldn't make sense of what just happened.
The glare sent chills down my spine, and this time, I knew he was serious, but I couldn't take it! I can't accept it!
My eyes turned moist from my unshed tears, “You—” I began, but couldn't say anything more.
My body trembled, my fist clenched tightly, and my chest heaved heavily. I swallowed, lowered my head, turned to look at the smug Victoria who couldn't hide her expression, then back at Marcus who was still staring at me, as if he was daring me to challenge his authority.
I pursed my lips, bowed my head, and with a heart that had holes, I walked past him and ran upstairs without saying a word.
“Since he had chosen to side with her, then I’ll leave and let them be!” I thought as I ran back to my room with tears running down my face.
But in my heart, I couldn't help but curse him, “I hate you! I hate you!!”